“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the richness of His grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” (Ephesians 1:7-8 CSB)
People don’t talk much about blood these days. In many circles it is referred to as just another “body fluid.” In the Bible, though, blood is a big deal. In the Bible it represents life itself. Leviticus 17:11 reads, “The life of the creature is in the blood.” In their understanding, when blood was drained from a sacrificial animal, the animal died. Therefore, the life is in the blood. Thus, when the New Testament writers speak about the blood of Christ that was shed on the cross, they are referring to the life of Jesus.
Through, or by means of, the blood of Jesus, that is, His life given for us, we have redemption. We were slaves to sin, dominated by it, and condemned for all eternity. Because of our sins, the righteousness and holiness of God demanded our lives. Jesus, the Son of God, took the penalty that was due us upon Himself and gave His life in our stead. He paid the price of redemption in order to purchase our freedom from slavery to sin with its consequences. This redemption yields forgiveness.
Forgiveness of sins is one of the products of God’s grace, but that is just the beginning. His grace further takes us to wisdom and understanding. Before grace came, we were not much different from a sacrificial animal in terms of our understanding of God, but grace turned on the lights, so to speak. Grace brought us into a personal relationship with the God who created us, and that produced wisdom and understanding. And that process continues day after day as our relationship with the Lord deepens. We have only begun to explore the depths of God’s grace. We can only imagine what is yet to come. But come it will.
Father, We thank You for the blood of Christ, His life that was given for us on the cross. We thank You for the grace that has set us free, and for the wisdom and understanding that You have brought to us. Today, may we live in that grace, and may we share it with a lost world. Amen.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
A New Creation
“What matters instead is a new creation.” (Galatians 6:15 CSB)
People have various notions about what is important. We base them on values we either adopt from others we admire or develop on our own. Whatever the source, we all have “what matters” systems we go by, and within these systems we prioritize according to what matters most.
In the churches of Galatia, there were people who were attempting to impose their systems of “what matters” on everyone else. Their systems, however, came into stark contrast with a fundamental truth of the Christian faith. Thus, Paul wrote that “what matters instead is a new creation.”
We are a new creation. Faith has led us into a totally new life, the life of the Spirit, whereby we have a spiritual fellowship with the Holy Spirit of God that overflows into fellowship with other believers. This life is characterized by freshness and newness, where the air we breathe is freedom. We have been set free from what was so that we may live now as a new creation. God brought this about in us when we received Him into our hearts by faith. That is the life He has given to us as His special gift to us, and we are to continue in this life.
We are a new creation in Christ, and that is what matters.
Lord, We thank You for this special gift, and we ask You to help us today to live as a new creation in the freedom You instilled in us. Amen.
People have various notions about what is important. We base them on values we either adopt from others we admire or develop on our own. Whatever the source, we all have “what matters” systems we go by, and within these systems we prioritize according to what matters most.
In the churches of Galatia, there were people who were attempting to impose their systems of “what matters” on everyone else. Their systems, however, came into stark contrast with a fundamental truth of the Christian faith. Thus, Paul wrote that “what matters instead is a new creation.”
We are a new creation. Faith has led us into a totally new life, the life of the Spirit, whereby we have a spiritual fellowship with the Holy Spirit of God that overflows into fellowship with other believers. This life is characterized by freshness and newness, where the air we breathe is freedom. We have been set free from what was so that we may live now as a new creation. God brought this about in us when we received Him into our hearts by faith. That is the life He has given to us as His special gift to us, and we are to continue in this life.
We are a new creation in Christ, and that is what matters.
Lord, We thank You for this special gift, and we ask You to help us today to live as a new creation in the freedom You instilled in us. Amen.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Bearing One Another’s Burdens
“Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2 CSB)
Most people are intimately familiar with the concept of “burdens.” We all have them in one form or another. Some burdens are heavier than others. Some are relational, while some are more personal. Some folks may only have a few, while others seem to have way more than their share. But we all have them.
What a terrible tragedy when someone has to bear his or her burdens alone. What a terrible loneliness. What great peace comes, though, in the Christian community when believers practice carrying “one another’s burdens.” To do so is to practice the good, and to fulfill the law of Christ that we love one another as we love ourselves. We focus not just on our own burdens, but on those that other believers have to carry, and when we do that, everyone’s burdens get a little lighter. One proverb says, “Many hands make a heavy load light.”
There is an interesting irony here. We all have our own burdens, and yet, when we begin to practice bearing the burdens of others, our burdens seem to somehow get lighter. Something about focusing our thoughts and concerns on the needs of others causes us to focus less on our concerns and actually enables us to be better able to bear our own burdens.
Bearing one another’s burdens is like sowing good seed. Over time, with proper care, a great harvest of righteousness and peace is reaped. Effort invested in carrying one another’s burdens is ultimately greatly rewarded. This is why Paul writes, “So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity we must work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.”
Today’s challenge is that we carry one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Father, Show us how we can help bear the burdens of someone else today, fulfill Your law of love, and actually end up meeting our own needs as well. And when we see that, please remind us that You are the One who accomplishes this in us. Amen.
Most people are intimately familiar with the concept of “burdens.” We all have them in one form or another. Some burdens are heavier than others. Some are relational, while some are more personal. Some folks may only have a few, while others seem to have way more than their share. But we all have them.
What a terrible tragedy when someone has to bear his or her burdens alone. What a terrible loneliness. What great peace comes, though, in the Christian community when believers practice carrying “one another’s burdens.” To do so is to practice the good, and to fulfill the law of Christ that we love one another as we love ourselves. We focus not just on our own burdens, but on those that other believers have to carry, and when we do that, everyone’s burdens get a little lighter. One proverb says, “Many hands make a heavy load light.”
There is an interesting irony here. We all have our own burdens, and yet, when we begin to practice bearing the burdens of others, our burdens seem to somehow get lighter. Something about focusing our thoughts and concerns on the needs of others causes us to focus less on our concerns and actually enables us to be better able to bear our own burdens.
Bearing one another’s burdens is like sowing good seed. Over time, with proper care, a great harvest of righteousness and peace is reaped. Effort invested in carrying one another’s burdens is ultimately greatly rewarded. This is why Paul writes, “So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity we must work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.”
Today’s challenge is that we carry one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Father, Show us how we can help bear the burdens of someone else today, fulfill Your law of love, and actually end up meeting our own needs as well. And when we see that, please remind us that You are the One who accomplishes this in us. Amen.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Walking with the Spirit
“I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16 CSB)
Christians are people who “walk by the spirit.” To “walk” by the Spirit means simply to “live” by the Spirit, and it further means to live a life that is guided by the Holy Spirit. When we come to faith, God puts His Spirit in us to guide us from within, so that we can live a God-honoring life.
There is always within us a tension, however. We are, in fact, physical beings who are of the flesh, and our tendency is to live by the flesh. The works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, promiscuity, selfishness, and a whole host of evils, which Paul enumerated in Galatians 5:19-20. These works of the flesh are in opposition to what the Holy Spirit desires for us, and what He desires for us is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control.
So, how do we get from living by the flesh to living by the Spirit? It takes the crucifixion of the works of the flesh. Paul wrote, “Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” That means that we have made an intentional decision to reject a life that is dominated by the works of the flesh, and that we have asked God’s Spirit to produce in and through us the fruit of the Spirit. The Spirit has made us alive, so we decide to walk with Him. We walk with Him much in the same way we might walk with a friend. We walk at the same pace, in the same direction, and toward the same goal.
In humility before the Lord, may we each make a daily, intentional decision to walk by the Spirit.
Lord, Our desire is for the desires of the Holy Spirit within us to be fulfilled today and each day, for Your glory. Amen.
Christians are people who “walk by the spirit.” To “walk” by the Spirit means simply to “live” by the Spirit, and it further means to live a life that is guided by the Holy Spirit. When we come to faith, God puts His Spirit in us to guide us from within, so that we can live a God-honoring life.
There is always within us a tension, however. We are, in fact, physical beings who are of the flesh, and our tendency is to live by the flesh. The works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, promiscuity, selfishness, and a whole host of evils, which Paul enumerated in Galatians 5:19-20. These works of the flesh are in opposition to what the Holy Spirit desires for us, and what He desires for us is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control.
So, how do we get from living by the flesh to living by the Spirit? It takes the crucifixion of the works of the flesh. Paul wrote, “Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” That means that we have made an intentional decision to reject a life that is dominated by the works of the flesh, and that we have asked God’s Spirit to produce in and through us the fruit of the Spirit. The Spirit has made us alive, so we decide to walk with Him. We walk with Him much in the same way we might walk with a friend. We walk at the same pace, in the same direction, and toward the same goal.
In humility before the Lord, may we each make a daily, intentional decision to walk by the Spirit.
Lord, Our desire is for the desires of the Holy Spirit within us to be fulfilled today and each day, for Your glory. Amen.
Friday, August 3, 2007
The Way of Freedom
“For you are called to freedom, brothers; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.” (Galatians 5:13 CSB)
Freedom in Christ has to be one the truly great truths of the Christian faith. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.
Two extremes can result from this freedom, though. One extreme sounds like this: “I am free. This is an absolute. Therefore, rules are irrelevant, and I can live my life any way I want to.” In this extreme view, the individual thinks that freedom is all about him or her.
The other extreme is at the opposite pole, reacting against what is seen as “free license” to exercise the pursuits of the flesh. This view sounds like this: “Freedom is a pipe dream. The idea is irrelevant, because what really counts is keeping the rules. God does not want people to pursue fleshly interests. He wants people to live rightly. And that can only be done by following the rules, by keeping God’s laws. That is the way to God.”
Both views are extreme, and both miss the target. The truth is between them.
In Christ, we are set free from the domination both of the flesh and of the law. Our lives are to no longer be dominated by simple rules-keeping, and neither are they to be dominated by a lifestyle of “free license.” Whatever dominates your life is your master.
By faith in Jesus, we are free, not to use our freedom as an opportunity for indulging the flesh, since that does not honor Christ, but as an opportunity to serve and to love others. Paul says, “What counts is faith working through love.” (verse 6) We are to serve one another through love.
The true purpose of freedom is to overcome self-centeredness so that we can experience and express God’s love. That is the way of freedom. It is all about the Lord.
Father, Help us to live the true life of freedom You have desired for us, for Your honor and glory. Amen.
Freedom in Christ has to be one the truly great truths of the Christian faith. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.
Two extremes can result from this freedom, though. One extreme sounds like this: “I am free. This is an absolute. Therefore, rules are irrelevant, and I can live my life any way I want to.” In this extreme view, the individual thinks that freedom is all about him or her.
The other extreme is at the opposite pole, reacting against what is seen as “free license” to exercise the pursuits of the flesh. This view sounds like this: “Freedom is a pipe dream. The idea is irrelevant, because what really counts is keeping the rules. God does not want people to pursue fleshly interests. He wants people to live rightly. And that can only be done by following the rules, by keeping God’s laws. That is the way to God.”
Both views are extreme, and both miss the target. The truth is between them.
In Christ, we are set free from the domination both of the flesh and of the law. Our lives are to no longer be dominated by simple rules-keeping, and neither are they to be dominated by a lifestyle of “free license.” Whatever dominates your life is your master.
By faith in Jesus, we are free, not to use our freedom as an opportunity for indulging the flesh, since that does not honor Christ, but as an opportunity to serve and to love others. Paul says, “What counts is faith working through love.” (verse 6) We are to serve one another through love.
The true purpose of freedom is to overcome self-centeredness so that we can experience and express God’s love. That is the way of freedom. It is all about the Lord.
Father, Help us to live the true life of freedom You have desired for us, for Your honor and glory. Amen.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
So, What Happened?
“What has happened to this blessedness of yours?” (Galatians 4:15 CSB)
Have you ever had days when it feels like your life is not as blessed as it once was? There may be a hopeful word for you from the example of the Galatian churches. Read on.
The churches of Galatia held a special place in Paul’s heart. He evidently got quite sick during the days he labored among them. His reference that they would have torn out their eyes and given them to him suggests that his illness had to do with his eyes. Whatever the malady, the point is that they enthusiastically ministered to him. Those early days were great times for the churches in Galatia, full of promise and potential, but that blessedness was no longer apparent. Thus, Paul’s question, “What has happened to this blessedness of yours?”
For the Galatian churches, the loss of blessedness came as the result of the introduction of false teachings about legalism that were strangling the life out of the church. We see a similar occurrence today in churches and in individuals. Someone starts out with great promise and potential, with some heady enthusiasm, but the introduction of some source of negative influence leads to the loss of blessedness, wellness, wholeness, and peace. It appears then that God is not blessing as He did previously. This influence can come from a variety of sources.
So, the real question here is: What can be done to restore blessedness?
The solution to this question is simple but not easy. We first need to identify the source of the negative influence and then correct it. Said another way, we have to reject the negative influences we find, turn completely around, and return to the point where we diverged from the path, so that we can then continue on the blessed journey. More simply put, we call this humility and repentance. These are the key items in the restoration of blessedness.
Father, We humble ourselves before You, and we bring before You any and all influences in our lives that may have caused us to veer from the path of blessedness. We return to the path, and we ask You for the restoration of full blessedness, for Your honor and glory. Amen.
Have you ever had days when it feels like your life is not as blessed as it once was? There may be a hopeful word for you from the example of the Galatian churches. Read on.
The churches of Galatia held a special place in Paul’s heart. He evidently got quite sick during the days he labored among them. His reference that they would have torn out their eyes and given them to him suggests that his illness had to do with his eyes. Whatever the malady, the point is that they enthusiastically ministered to him. Those early days were great times for the churches in Galatia, full of promise and potential, but that blessedness was no longer apparent. Thus, Paul’s question, “What has happened to this blessedness of yours?”
For the Galatian churches, the loss of blessedness came as the result of the introduction of false teachings about legalism that were strangling the life out of the church. We see a similar occurrence today in churches and in individuals. Someone starts out with great promise and potential, with some heady enthusiasm, but the introduction of some source of negative influence leads to the loss of blessedness, wellness, wholeness, and peace. It appears then that God is not blessing as He did previously. This influence can come from a variety of sources.
So, the real question here is: What can be done to restore blessedness?
The solution to this question is simple but not easy. We first need to identify the source of the negative influence and then correct it. Said another way, we have to reject the negative influences we find, turn completely around, and return to the point where we diverged from the path, so that we can then continue on the blessed journey. More simply put, we call this humility and repentance. These are the key items in the restoration of blessedness.
Father, We humble ourselves before You, and we bring before You any and all influences in our lives that may have caused us to veer from the path of blessedness. We return to the path, and we ask You for the restoration of full blessedness, for Your honor and glory. Amen.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Our Father’s Faith
“So those who have faith are blessed with Abraham, who had faith.” (Galatians 3:9 CSB)
Abraham was a man of faith. We do not know at what point he began turning to God, believing in Him, and worshiping Him. We just know that he did. God told him to go to a land He would show him, so in faith Abraham went. God promised to multiply Abraham and his “seed” like the sands of the seashore. Abraham believed God, and God counted that as Abraham being right in relationship with Him.
So, what was it that made Abraham right with God? Was it his obedience? No, it was his faith. His faith put him in right standing with God, and obedience was the expression of his faith and trust in God. And for that, God blessed him greatly.
The Bible teaches us that those who are the true sons, true children, of Abraham are those who hear the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, believe the message, and then believe in and commit to Jesus. These are the true descendants of Abraham who are blessed with Abraham. We are blessed on the basis of our faith. Then, our actions follow our faith. We believe first, and then we act and express our belief. We do not act in order to be blessed, but because we are blessed. The works we do on the basis of faith are evidence of that faith, but they cannot substitute for faith, since that would miss the point altogether.
Faith is the point. Faith is the portal into right relationship with God. Nothing we do can get us in the door. Faith is the only means available to put us in a right relationship with God. Faith, in fact, IS the relationship.
Today, may we each be strengthened in our faith, in our relationship with God, and may we then demonstrate our faith in the actions of our lives.
Father, Enable us this and each day to live out the faith we have in You. Amen.
Abraham was a man of faith. We do not know at what point he began turning to God, believing in Him, and worshiping Him. We just know that he did. God told him to go to a land He would show him, so in faith Abraham went. God promised to multiply Abraham and his “seed” like the sands of the seashore. Abraham believed God, and God counted that as Abraham being right in relationship with Him.
So, what was it that made Abraham right with God? Was it his obedience? No, it was his faith. His faith put him in right standing with God, and obedience was the expression of his faith and trust in God. And for that, God blessed him greatly.
The Bible teaches us that those who are the true sons, true children, of Abraham are those who hear the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, believe the message, and then believe in and commit to Jesus. These are the true descendants of Abraham who are blessed with Abraham. We are blessed on the basis of our faith. Then, our actions follow our faith. We believe first, and then we act and express our belief. We do not act in order to be blessed, but because we are blessed. The works we do on the basis of faith are evidence of that faith, but they cannot substitute for faith, since that would miss the point altogether.
Faith is the point. Faith is the portal into right relationship with God. Nothing we do can get us in the door. Faith is the only means available to put us in a right relationship with God. Faith, in fact, IS the relationship.
Today, may we each be strengthened in our faith, in our relationship with God, and may we then demonstrate our faith in the actions of our lives.
Father, Enable us this and each day to live out the faith we have in You. Amen.
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